Egg carton



Feb. 26, 1935.' J, w COX 1,992,192

' EGG CARTON l Filed June 2s, 1932 2 sheets-sheep 1 -iiill l" zj/ l I.

J. W. COX

Feb. 26, 1935.

EGG CARTON Filed June 23. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IH l 'gli Patented Feb. I26, 1935 1,992,192

UNITEDA s'm'rizs PATENT OFFICE EGG CARTON John'W. Cox, Chicago, lll., assgnor to Self-Lock- Crton Co., Chicago, lll., a corporation of Application June 23, 1932, Serial No. 618,929 1s claims. (c1. 22e-29)' The present invention relates to cellular carcured to the rear wall in any suitable manner, tons such as egg cartons, and has particular refsuch as by gluing. Each of the longitudinal parerence to an improved type of cellular carton tition-forming sections is provided with a series which is easily erected. of shoulders 20 which correspond in position with 5 Heretofore cartons have been devised which the position of the cross partitions and engage 5 from fthe standpoint of carrying eggs are satisthe cross partitions at the same elevation as their factory. For example, Troyk Patent, No. 1,766,155, hinged portions. That is, the longitudinal pardescribes a cellular egg carton which has gained tition sections are cut away adjacent the cross great favor in the art. Egg cartons are necespartitions to form horizontal shoulders 20 which sarily shipped from the manufacturer to the conextend from the substantially vertical stop sides l0 sumer in a collapsed condition -and are erected or 21. 'I'he stop sides 21 ordinarily are abutting the set up when it is desired to fill the carton with cross partitions 16 when the latter are rotated eggs. 'I'his problem of setting up the cartons is into vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby one which has been of particular perplexity to limiting the movement of the cross partitions. l5.y the art for manyy years. To set up the carton of In the modifications shown in the drawings, 15 `'Iroyk Patent, No. 1,766,155, it is necessary to the tops of the cross partitions are substantially employ a machine such as described in Burger level and form lines between the hinges 17 and Patent, No. 1,738,034. 19 about which the cross partitions rotate. It 'will A primary object of the present invention is to be seen that rotation of the cross partitions does 20 provide a' carton which may be erected or set up not change the position of the tops of the cross 20 from a collapsed condition with ease. partitions. It is therefore possible to secure the- Anadditional object is to provide a novel type tops of the cross partitions beneath the horizonof collapsed cellular carton and method of making tal shoulders 20 and adjacent the stop sides 21v a'nd folding the same. and to rotate the cross partitions from a collapsed A further object is the provision of a cushion horizontal position to an erect vertical position 25 style egg carton which may be set up by hand. Without damage tothe elements and without re- These and other objects will become apparentl moving the CIOSS DartitiOnS from engagement from a consideration of the following description with the shoulders 20. and by reference to the accompanying drawings, To allow rotation of the cross partitions the 30. in which longitudinal partition-forming sections are cut 30 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a set-up carton away in front of the shoulders 20, as shown at 22, made in` accordance with my invention; and the cross partitions are provided with slots Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carton shown 23 which receive the sections 8 and 11. As shown linliig. 1 in partially set-up condition; in the drawings, the cut-away portions 22 are Fig. 3 is a plan view of the carton in completely arcuate in form and have centers coincident with 35 collapsed condition; the tops of the cross partitions.

, Fig. 4 is a plan View of the blank from which The slots 23 have an additional important my carton is constructed; and function in receiving the sections 8 and 11 and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a preventing their outward movement. The bot- 40=modiied form of my carton. tom sections 7 and 13 are not joined adjacent As shown in the drawings, the carton is formed the scorings 8 and 12, and the carton therefore I by properly cutting, scoring, and foldinga blank has a tendency to spread apart into a collapsed of cardboard or the like to form in the order condition. When the cross partitions are rotatnamed a cover-locking strip 1, scoring 2, cover 3, ed into vertical position the slots 23 securely hold scoring 4, a rear wall 5, scoring 6, a rear bottom the sections 9 and 11 and thereby maintain the 45 section 7, scoring 8, a rear longitudinal partitioncarton erected. The upper parts of the cut-away formingsectionr9, a scoring 10, a front longituportions 22 are substantially vertical above the d'inal partition-forming section 11, a scoring 12, top of the cross partitions. a f ront bottom section 13, a scoring 14, a front In addition to arranging the cross partitions wall 15, cross partitions 16 hinged to the front and the longitudinal partitions in such a manner 50 Wall by means`of triangular hinges 17, and an as to permit the cross partitions to be rotated attaching strip 18 hinged to the opposite sides of while in engagement with the longitudinal partithe cross partitions by means of similar triangutions, I have provided a means whereby the carlar hinges 19. ton may be collapsed by a simple movement. 5,5. The attaching strip 18 is folded over and se- The front wall of the carton is of less height 55 than the rear wall, and the attaching strip 18 is glued to the rear wall at a height equal to that of the front wall. The cross partitions are madetwice as wide as the front wall. The bottom sections, including the longitudinal partition sections, are of a width equal to the width of the cross partitions plus twice the width of the front wall. As shown, each of the bottom sectionsv is equal in Width to the width of the front wall, as is each of the longitudinal partition sections. The relation of the parts may be expressed by the equation: 1

In order to provide the carton with a cushion bottom, the front wall is made lower than the rear wall, and the shoulders 20 are substantially of the same height as the difference in height of the front and rear walls. As the longitudinal partition sections are of the same height or width as the front Wall, suspension of the shoulders 20 to the top of the cross partitions-causes the bottom sections 7 and 13 to assume an inverted V-shape when the carton is erected.

As the end cross partitions of cartons of the type shown in Fig. 1 have a tendency to be loosened, it is desirable to provide a carton as shown in Fig. 5, wherein both end shoulders are faced inwardly. This results in two shoulders adjacent one end facing in opposite directions. To collapse the carton shown in Fig. 5, the cross partition 24 is placed in a horizontal position and the A end cross partition 25 is rotated inwardly an a'dditional 90 so that it rests beneath and in contact with the partition 24. The longitudinal partition sections are provided with two complementary cut-away portions 22 between the partitions 24 and 25. Byproviding a carton of this structure the carton may be collapsed while the cross partitions are in horizontal position by folding along the scoring 6 between the rear wall and the rear bottom section and the scoring 14 between the front wall and the front bottom section. When this is done lthe top and cover-locking strip extend horizontally over the cross partitions and terminate short of the scoring 14. In Figf3, thev cover and locking strip are shown in vertical position so as not to obscure other parts of the carton.

As shown in Fig. 3, the shoulders 20 are in flattened condition but still overhang the top of the cross partitions. l

To set up or erect the carton from the condition shown' in Fig. 3, it is necessary only to press the carton inwardly along the extended edges formed by the scorings 6 and 14. This movement causes the carton walls to be distended toward erect position, as shown in Fig. 2; As the pressure along scorings 6 and 14 is continued the carton is caused to bend along the scorings 8, l0, and l2, and along the outer edges of the triangular hinges 17 and 19 by which the cross partitions are secured to the front and rear walls. The front and rear longitudinal partition-forming sections 9 and 11 approach each other as the movement is continued, and when these sections are in substantially the position shown in Fig. 1, the cross partitions are rotated into erect position, thereby causing the slots 23 to engage the sections 9 and 11 maintain the carton in erected condition. Any suitable means may be employed for rotating the cross partitions into erect condition. I have found it to be convenient to rotate the partitions into erect position by the same movement with which an egg is inserted in the cells of the carton.

In manufacture, a blank such as shown in Fig. 4 is prepared by suitably cutting and scoring a sheet of cardboard or other material. The blank is then folded about the scoring 14 and the tops of the cross partitions are inserted beneath the shoulders 20, it being understood that the parts .are exed sufficiently to permit the cross partitions to pass beneath the front edge.of the shoulders. The attaching strip is supplied with glue, and the rear wall is pressed against the glued attaching strip by bending the blank along the scoring 6.

It will be seen that I have provided a cushio style carton which is composed of a single piece of material and which may be easily and quickly A erected without the appliationpf any mechanical device whatever. 'I'he cartons are shipped collapsed, as shown in Fig. 3. A worker can erect the cartons by merely holding one edge and striking the other edge against some object, whereby the walls of the carton are distended. 'Ihe cross partitions are rotated into position by the same movement by which eggs are inserted in the carton. Mechanical devices such as blocks or projections may be employed if desired to rotate the cross partitions into erect position. In fact, the carton may be completely erected by machinery with very little difliculty, due to the simplicity of the movements necessary to erect the carton.

In order to facilitate the erection of the carton, it is desirable to make thesscorings somewhat heavy, and in certain cases; particularly where a heavy or stiff grade of paper is employed, it .will be advantageous to provide spaced cuts along scorings 8 and 11. The various modifications of the structure and methods described herein for purposes-of illustration 4and explanation which come within the spirit of my invention are intended to be included in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A carton comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form, in the order named, a rear wall,v

2. A carton, comprising a blank cut, scoredA and folded to form a rear wall, a rear bottom section, a rear longitudinal partition section, a front longitudinal partition section, a front bottom section, a front wall, crosspartitions hinged lto said front wall, and a gluing strip hinged to the opposite sides of said cross partitions and folded over and secured to said rear wall, said longitudinal partition sections having shoulders engaging said cross partitions at the same elevation as the hinged portions of said cross partitions, and the width of the rear wall below the cross partitions, said cross partitions and said front wall being equal to the width of said bottom sections and said longitudinal partition sections said bottom sections being suspended in inverted V-shape when the carton is-erected.

3. A carton,'comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form a rear wall, a rear bottom section,

a rear longitudinal portion section, a front longitudinal partition section, a lfront bottom section, a front wall, cross partitions hinged to said'front wall, an attaching strip hingedrto the opposite sides of said cross partitions and folded over and secured to the rear wall at-a height equal to the height of said front wall, said longitudinal partitions having shoulders engaging the tops of said cross partitions at a height equal to the height of the front wall, the height of said longitudinal partitions below said shoulders being less than the height of said front wall, whereby to suspend said bottom sections in. inverted V-shape, and the width of said bottom sections and said longitudinal partition sections being equal to the width of said cross partitions plus twice the widthv of said front wall.

4. A carton, comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form a cover, a rear wall, a rear bottom section, a rear longitudinal partition section, a front longitudinal'partition section, a front wall Iof less height than said rear wall, cross partitions hinged to the top of said front wall, an attaching strip hinged to the opposite sides of said cross partitions and folded over and secured to the 'rear wall at a height equal to thev height of the front wall, the widths of said front'wall and leach of said bottom sections and said longitudinal partition sections being equal, the width of said cross partitions being twice that of said front wall, and said longitudinal partition sections having shoulders engaging said cross partitions at a height equal to the height of said front wall, said shoulders being suiciently wide to suspend said bot^ tom sections in inverted V-shape, said shoulders extending upwardly to form a brace for said cover.

.5. A cartonphaving front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, cushion-forming bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections provided with shoulders engaging said cross partitions on the level of the hinges of said cross partitions, said carton being folded in collapsed condition along the bottom edges o'f said front and rear Walls.

6. A carton comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, and cushion-forming bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having shoulders engaging saidcross partitions at the elevation of their hinged portions, said longitudinal partition sections being cut away in front of said shoulders to permit said cross partitions to be rotated downwardly into erect position. y

7. A carton, comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said front and rear walls at the elevation of said front wall, said cross partitions being twiceV as wide as said front wall, and cushion-forming bottom sections including longitudinal partition sections having shoulders engaging said cross partition sections at the elevation of their hinged portions, said bottom sections being four timesas wide as said front wall, and said longitudinal partition sections being cut awayln front of said shoulders to permit said cross partitions to be rotated downwardly into rect position.

8. A carton, comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls, and cushion-forming bottom sections including longitudinal yparti tion sections having shoulders engaging said cross partitions at the elevation of their hinged portions, the shoulders adjacent the end cross parti- -set up.

tions be gboth faced inwardly, and said longi'- tudinal partition sections being out away in front of each of the shoulders thereon to permit said cross partitions to be rotated into erect position.

9. A carton, comprising a blank cut, scored 6 and folded to form front and rear walls, cross partitions hinged to said walls at the elevation of said front wall, said cross partitions being twice as wide as said-front wall, and cushion-. .l forming bottom sections four times as wide as said l front wall and including longitudinal partition sections having shoulders engaging said cross partitions at the elevation of their hinged portions, the shoulders adjacent the end cross partitions being both faced inwardly, and said longil tudinal partition sections being cut away in front of each of the shoulders thereon to permit said cross partitions to be rotated downwardly into erect position.

10. A carton composed of a plurality of sections each separated by a scoring and comprising a. rear wall, a rear bottom section, a rear longitudinal partition section, a front longitudinal partition section, a front bottom section, a, front wall, cross partitionsA hinged to the front wall, an attaching strip hinged to said cross partitions and secured to the rear wall, said longitudinal partition sections having shoulders engaging said cross partitions at the elevation of their hinged portions and suspending said bottom sections above a surface upon which said carton is placed, said bottom sections being equal in width to said cross partitions plus twice the Width of said front wall and having an inverted V-shape when the carton is 11. A carton having front and rear walls of substantially plane shape and extending downwardly to a surface upon which the carton is positioned, cross partitions hinged to the upper portionof the front wall and to the rear wall, said cross partitions lying in a horizontal position when in collapsed condition and being rotatable intoerect position, and a bottom section of substantially inverted V-shape and provided with an upwardly extendable longitudinal partition, the width of said bottom section being equal to the widthof said cross partitions plus the width of said front and r'ear walls below the points at which said cross partitions are hinged thereto.

12. A carton, comprising a. blank cut, scored and folded to form a rearwall, a rear bottom section, a rear longitudinal partition section, a front longitudinal partition section, a front-bottom section, a front wall, and cross partitions hinged to the upper portions of said front and rear walls and being rotatable from a horizontal collapsed position into erect position, the width of said cross partitions plus the widths of said front and rear walls below the points, at which said cross partio tions are hinged thereto being equal to the widths of said bottom sections plus the widths ofv said longitudinal partition sections, the front and rear. walls being of substantially plane shape and extending downwardly to the surface upon which the carton is positioned,and the rear bottom sec- 65 tions being connected to the lower edges of said front and rear walls and extending upwardly therefrom to the center of the carton in substan` tially inverted Vshape.j l

13. A, carton, comprising a. blank cut, scored s and folded to form front and rear walls of substantially plane shape and extending downwardly to the surface upon which the carton is positioned, a cover joined to the upper edge of said rear wall, cross partitions hinged to said walls.

said walls, front and rear bottom sections being inclined upwardly in substantially inverted V- shape to meet at a point adjacent the center of the carton, longitudinal partition sections extending vertically in contiguous relation from said bottom sections to a position in contact with and forming a brace for said cover, said longitudinal partition sections having slots for receiving cross -and rotatable into erect position with respect to partitions, and interlocking means on said longitudinal partition sections and said cross partitions, the Widthot said cross partitions plus the Widths of said front and rear walls below the points at which said cross partitions are hinged thereto being equal to the widths of said bottom sections plus the widths of said longitudinal partition sections.

JOHN W. COX. 

